Method and apparatus for providing access to a packet data network

ABSTRACT

An access point supports communication in a femto cell of a cellular communication network. The access point comprises transceiver circuitry arranged to enable communication with at least one wireless communication unit located within the femto cell, and a signal processing logic module comprising an access point controller interface logic module arranged to enable communication between the access point and an access point controller. The signal processing logic module further comprises a gateway logic module arranged to provide an interface between the at least one wireless communication unit located within the femto cell and a packet data network.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to a method and apparatus forproviding access to a packet data network, and in particular, toproviding such access to a wireless communication unit operating withina femto cell of a cellular communication network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless communication systems, such as the 3^(rd) Generation (3G) ofmobile telephone standards and technology, are well known. An example ofsuch 3G standards and technology is the Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), developed by the 3^(rd) GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) (www.3gpp.org). The 3^(rd) generation ofwireless communications has generally been developed to supportmacro-cell mobile phone communications. Such macro cells utilise highpower base stations (Node Bs in 3GPP parlance) to communicate withwireless Communication units within a relatively large coverage area.Typically, wireless communication units, or User Equipment (UE) as theyare often referred to in 3G parlance, communicate with a Core Network(CN) of the 3G wireless communication system via a Radio NetworkSubsystem (RNS). A wireless communication system typically comprises aplurality of radio network subsystems, each radio network subsystemcomprising one or more cells to which UEs may attach, and therebyconnect to the network. Each macro-cellular RNS further comprises acontroller, in the form of a Radio Network Controller (RNC), operablycoupled to the one or more Node Bs, via an Iub interface.

The RNC is operably coupled to a Serving GPRS (General Packet RadioService) Support Node (SGSN) within the core network via an Iuinterface. The SGSN is operably coupled to a Gateway GPRS Support Node(GGSN), also located within the core network, via a Gn interface. TheGGSN provides an interface Gi between the backbone GPRS network andexternal packet data networks, such as the Internet.

In order for a UE to access, say, the Internet via the 3G wirelesscommunication system, the UE must activate a PDP (Packet Data Protocol)context. A PDP context is a data structure present on both the currentSGSN for that UE, and a GGSN that provides access to the requiredexternal packet data network, which for this example comprises theInternet.

To activate a PDP context, the UE selects an Access Point Name (APN)corresponding to the required external packet data network, (e.g. theInternet). The selection of the APN may be based on configurationinformation or by user input. The UE then sends a GPRS sessionmanagement message in the form of an Activate PDP Context Requestmessage comprising the APN to the SGSN. Further details for GPRSmanagement messages may be found in 3GPP Technical Specification 24.008.

Upon receipt of the Activate PDP Context Request message, the SGSNperforms a DNS (Domain Name Server) lookup for the APN, in order tolocate the address of the appropriate GGSN. The SGSN then initiates PDPcontext activation within itself and the appropriate GGSN, and sendsdetails of the activated PDP context to the UE. The UE is then able toaccess, for example, the Internet using the activated PDP context withinthe GGSN.

Lower power (and therefore smaller coverage area) femto cells (orpico-cells) are a recent development within the field of wirelesscellular communication systems. Femto cells or pico-cells (with the termfemto cells being used hereafter to encompass pico-cells or similar) areeffectively communication coverage areas supported by low power basestations (otherwise referred to as Access Points (APs)). These femtocells are intended to be able to be piggy-backed onto the more widelyused macro-cellular network and support communications to UEs in arestricted, for example ‘in-building’, environment.

In this regard, a femto cell that is intended to support communicationsaccording to the 3GPP standard will hereinafter be referred to as a 3Gfemto cell. Similarly, an access controller intended to supportcommunications with a low power base station in a femto cell accordingto the 3GPP standard will hereinafter be referred to as a 3^(rd)generation access controller (3G AC). Similarly, an Access Pointintended to support communications in a femto cell according to the 3GPPstandard will hereinafter be referred to as a 3^(rd) Generation AccessPoint (3G AP).

Typical applications for such 3G APs include, by way of example,residential and commercial (e.g. office) locations, ‘hotspots’, etc,whereby an AP can be connected to a core network via, for example, theInternet using a broadband connection or the like. In this manner, femtocells can be provided in a simple, scalable deployment in specificin-building locations where, for example, network congestion at themacro-cell level may be problematic.

In a femto cell scenario, an RNS typically comprises multiple 3G AccessPoints (3G AP), performing a number of functions generally associatedwith a base station or Node B and a controller in a form of a 3G Accesscontroller (3G AC). The 3G AP is typically coupled to the 3G AccessController via the Internet. The 3G Access Controller is then typicallycoupled to the core network (CN) via an Iu interface. In this manner,the 3G AP is able to provide voice and data services to a cellularhandset, such as UE, in a femto cell in contrast to the macro cell, inthe same way as a conventional Node-B, but with the deploymentsimplicity of, for example, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) accesspoint.

Currently, in order for a UE within a femto cell to access, say, theInternet via the 3G wireless communication system, the UE must activatea PDP context within the SGSN and GGSN, and access the Internet (orother external packet data network) via the GGSN of the core network.Accordingly, data being uploaded from the UE to the Internet is sent viathe 3G AP over the Internet to the 3G Access Controller, before beingrouted via the SGSN and GGSN back to the Internet. Similarly, data beingdownloaded from the Internet is routed via the GGSN and SGSN to the 3GAccess Controller, where it is transmitted over the Internet to the 3GAP.

As will be appreciated by a skilled artisan, this current approach foraccessing the Internet and other external packet data networks via femtocells is inefficient, since typically 3G APs already have substantiallydirect access to the Internet. Therefore, the current technique iswasteful of network resources that could otherwise be utilised moreeffectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention seeks to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate oneor more of the abovementioned disadvantages singly or in anycombination.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided anaccess point for supporting communication in a femto cell of a cellularcommunication network. The access point comprises transceiver circuitryarranged to enable communication with at least one wirelesscommunication unit located within the femto cell, and a signalprocessing logic module comprising access point controller interfacelogic module arranged to enable communication between the access pointand an access point controller. The signal processing logic modulefurther comprises a gateway logic module arranged to provide a gatewayinterface between the at least one wireless communication unit locatedwithin the femto cell and a packet data network.

In this manner, the access point is able to provide the wirelesscommunication unit with substantially direct access to the packet datanetwork, without the need for such access to be routed through the corenetwork. As a result, network resources do not need to be unnecessarilyand wastefully used.

Optionally, upon receipt of a request from a wireless communication unitto access the packet data network, the signal processing logic modulemay be arranged to modify the request to comprise an identifiercorresponding to the gateway logic module of the access point, and toforward the modified request on to a core network element via the accesspoint controller. In this manner, the gateway logic module may beutilised with current wireless communication units. According to asecond aspect of the invention, there is provided a wirelesscommunication unit comprising transceiver circuitry arranged to enablecommunication with a cellular communication network, and a signalprocessing logic module arranged to request access to a packet datanetwork via the cellular communication network. The signal processinglogic module is further arranged to determine whether the wirelesscommunication unit is connected to a femto cell access point of thecellular communication network, and if the wireless communication unitis connected to a femto cell access point of the cellular communicationnetwork, to transmit a request to access the packet data networkcomprising an identifier corresponding to a gateway interface of thefemto cell access point.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided anetwork element of a cellular communication network. The network elementcomprises a signal processing logic module arranged to receive requeststo access a packet data network from wireless communication units and toinitiate access activation in response thereto. The signal processinglogic module comprises a gateway router logic module. Upon receipt of arequest to access a packet data network from a wireless communicationunit within a femto cell, the gateway router logic module is arranged toidentify a femto access point supporting the femto cell within which thewireless communication unit is located, and obtain an address for agateway interface of the identified femto access point with which thesignal processing logic module is to initiate access activation.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod for providing access to a packet data network. The methodcomprises receiving a request to access the data packet network at afemto access point, the request comprising an identifier correspondingto a remote gateway interface, modifying the request to comprise anidentifier corresponding to a local gateway interface, and forwardingthe modified request on to a core network element.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodfor providing a wireless communication unit with access to a packet datanetwork. The method comprises determining whether the wirelesscommunication unit is connected to a femto cell access point of acellular communication network, and if the wireless communication unitis connected to a femto cell access point of the cellular communicationnetwork, to transmit a request to access the packet data networkcomprising an identifier corresponding to a gateway interface of thefemto cell access point.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodfor providing access to a packet data network. The method comprisesreceiving a request to access the packet data network from a wirelesscommunication unit within a femto cell, identifying a femto access pointsupporting the femto cell within which the wireless communication unitis located, obtaining an address for a gateway interface of theidentified femto access point, and initiating access creation using theobtained femto access point gateway interface address.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided awireless communication system adapted to support a method for providingaccess to a packet data network according to any one of the methods ofthe fourth, fifth, or sixth aspects of the invention.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided acomputer-readable storage element having computer-readable code storedthereon for programming a signal processing logic module in accordancewith any of the aforementioned methods.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention willbe apparent from, and elucidated with reference to, the embodimentsdescribed hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only,with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example of part of a cellular communicationnetwork adapted in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a simplified flowchart of a method forproviding access to a packet data network according to an embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a simplified flowchart of a method forproviding a wireless communication unit with access to a packet datanetwork according to an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of part of the cellular communicationnetwork of FIGS. 1 and 2 adapted in accordance with an alternativeembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a simplified flowchart of a method forproviding access to a packet data network according to an alternativeembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of part of the cellular communicationnetwork of FIGS. 1 and 2 adapted in accordance with an alternativeembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a typical computing system that may be employed toimplement signal processing functionality in embodiments of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, anexample of part of a 3GPP network, adapted in accordance with anembodiment of the invention, is illustrated and indicated generally at100. In particular, there is illustrated an example of part of acellular communication network 100 that comprises a combination of macrocells (not shown) and 3G femto cells. For the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a radio network sub-system (RNS) 110comprising an architecture adapted to handle femto cell communications.

In the illustrated femto cell scenario, the RNS 110 comprises a networkelement in a form of a 3G Access Point (3G AP) 130, performing a numberof functions generally associated with a base station or Node B, and acontroller in a form of a 3G Access controller (3G AC) 140. As will beappreciated by a skilled artisan, a 3G Access Point is a communicationelement that supports communications within a communication cell, suchas a 3G femto cell 150, and as such provides access to the cellularcommunication network via the 3G femto cell 150. One envisagedapplication is that a 3G AP 130 may be purchased by a member of thepublic and installed in their home or office. The 3G AP 130 may then beconnected to a 3G AC 140 over a packet data network 160, such as theInternet.

Thus, a 3G AP 130 may be considered as encompassing a scalable,multi-channel, two-way communication device that may be provided within,say, residential and commercial (e.g. office) locations, ‘hotspots’ etc,to extend or improve upon network coverage within those locations.Although there are no standard criteria for the functional components ofa 3G AP, an example of a typical 3G AP for use within a 3GPP system maycomprise some Node-B functionality and some aspects of a typical radionetwork controller (RNC) functionality within a macro cell architecture.For the illustrated embodiment, the 3G AP 130 further comprisestransceiver circuitry 155 arranged to enable communication with one ormore wireless communication units located within the general vicinity ofthe femto cell 150, such as User Equipment (UE) 114, via a wirelessinterface (Uu).

The 3G Access Controller 140 may be coupled to the core network (CN) 142via an Iu interface, as shown. In this manner, the 3G AP 130 is able toprovide voice and data services to a cellular handset, such as UE 114,in femto cell 150, in the same way as a conventional macro cell Node-B,but with the deployment simplicity of, for example, a Wireless LocalArea Network (WLAN) access point.

For the illustrated embodiment, the UE 114 is a wireless communicationunit comprising a transceiver 116 arranged to enable communication witha cellular communication network, and a signal processing logic module118. As would be appreciated by a skilled person, UE 114 comprisesnumerous other functional and logical elements to support wirelesscommunications and functionality, which will not be described furtherherein.

The 3G AP 130 of FIGS. 1 and 2 further comprises signal processing logicmodule 165. The signal processing logic module 165 comprises accesspoint controller interface logic module 170 arranged to enablecommunication between the 3G AP 130 and the 3G Access Controller 140. Inparticular, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, the access point controllerlogic module 170 is arranged to enable communication between the 3G AP130 and the 3G Access Controller 140, for example via the packet datanetwork 160.

As previously mentioned, current approaches for accessing externalpacket data networks via femto cells are inefficient, since such accessis required to be routed via a Gateway GPRS (General Packet RadioService) Support Node (GGSN) within the core network.

Accordingly, the signal processing logic module 165 of the 3G AP 130illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 further comprises a gateway logic module175 arranged to provide a gateway interface between wirelesscommunication units within the femto cell 150, such as UE 114, and thepacket data network 160.

In this manner, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, the 3G AP 130 is able toprovide UE 114 with substantially direct access to the packet datanetwork 160, without the need for such access to be routed through thecore network 142. For example, a ‘one-tunnel’, or ‘Direct Tunnel’ may becreated directly between, say, an air interface controller (not shown)of the 3G AP 130 and the gateway logic 175. As a result, networkresources do not need to be unnecessarily and wastefully used. Inparticular, and as described in greater detail below with reference tosome embodiments of the invention, it is contemplated that the gatewaylogic 175 may be implemented as a GGSN interface within the cellularcommunication network 100. In this manner, when a wireless communicationunit requests access to the packet data network 160, the gateway logic175 may be allocated by the core network 142 as the GGSN via which suchaccess is to be provided. In this manner, the provision of access to theexternal packet data network may be achieved whilst adhering to the 3GPP(and/or other) standards, and without resources within the core network142 being unnecessarily reserved.

As defined in 3GPP TR 23.919, a Direct Tunnel (previously referred to asa One Tunnel approach) allows an SGSN to establish a direct user planetunnel between a Radio Access Network (RAN) and a GGSN within the packetswitched domain. In particular, for embodiments of the invention, aDirect Tunnel may be established between, say, an air interfacecontroller (not shown) of the 3G AP 130 and the gateway logic 175. TheSGSN may handle the control plane signalling and make the decision whento establish a Direct Tunnel. In case of a Direct Tunnel, the SGSNprovides the RAN with the TEID (Tunnel Endpoint IDentifier) and userplane address of the RAN. The detail procedures for establishing aDirect Tunnel are specified in 3GPP TS 23.060.

It is further contemplated that, in the case where a femto access point,such as the 3G AP 130 of FIGS. 1 and 2, is deployed within, say, acorporate environment comprising a Local Area Network (LAN), such as acorporate intranet, the femto access point according to embodiments ofthe present invention may provide a further benefit of enabling wirelesscommunication units connected thereto to access the LAN.

As will be appreciated by a skilled artisan, the access point controllerlogic module 170 and the gateway logic module 175 may be arranged toutilise a common physical connection to the packet data network 160,along with some common layers within a protocol stack therefor. Forexample, both the access point controller logic module 170 and thegateway logic module 175 may utilise the Internet Protocol Suite TCP/IP(Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), for the transmission ofdata packets to and from the packet data network 160.

In accordance with some embodiment of the invention, upon receipt of arequest from a wireless communication unit to access the packet datanetwork 160, the signal processing logic module 165 may be arranged tomodify the request to comprise an identifier corresponding to thegateway logic module 175 of the 3G AP 130, and to forward the modifiedrequest on to a core network element, such as Serving GPRS Support Node(SGSN) 180, via the 3G access controller 140. In this manner, thegateway logic module 175 may be utilised with current wirelesscommunication units. For example, upon receipt of a request from awireless communication unit to access the packet data network 160, thesignal processing logic module 165 may be arranged to modify the requestto comprise an address corresponding to the gateway logic module 175 ofthe 3G AP 130. Alternatively, upon receipt of a request from a wirelesscommunication unit to access the packet data network 160, the signalprocessing logic module 165 may be arranged to modify the request tocomprise a substantially generic address corresponding to gateway logicmodules of access points.

Furthermore, upon receipt of a request to access a data packet network,the signal processing logic module 165 of the 3G AP 130 may be arrangedto determine whether the data packet network, for which access isrequested, is the same data packet network 160 with which the gatewaylogic module 175 of the 3G AP 130 is arranged to provide an interface.If the data packet network, for which access is requested, is the samedata packet network 160 with which the gateway logic module 175 isarranged to provide an interface, the signal processing logic module 165may then be arranged to modify the request to comprise an identifiercorresponding to the gateway logic module 175. The signal processinglogic module 165 may then forward the modified request on to a corenetwork element via the 3G access controller 140. Otherwise, if the datapacket network for which access is requested is not the same data packetnetwork 160 with which the gateway logic module 175 is arranged toprovide an interface, the signal processing logic module 165 may forwardthe unmodified request on to the core network element.

In a traditional 3G cellular communication system, in order for awireless communication units to access an external packet data networksuch as the Internet via the cellular communication network, thewireless communication unit is required to activate a PDP (Packet DataProtocol) context. A PDP context is a data structure present on both aSGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) for the cell within which the wirelesscommunication unit is located, and a GGSN within the core network viawhich access to the required external packet data network is available.

To activate a PDP context, the wireless communication unit selects anAccess Point Name (APN) that corresponds to the required external packetdata network. The selection of the APN may be based on, for example,pre-stored configuration information or on user input. The wirelesscommunication unit then sends an Activate PDP Context Request messagecomprising the APN to the SGSN. Upon receipt of the Activate PDP ContextRequest message, the SGSN performs a DNS (Domain Name Server) lookup forthe APN to locate an address for the appropriate GGSN. The SGSN thensends a Create PDP Context Request message to the appropriate GGSN. Uponreceipt of a Create PDP Context Response message from the GGSN,confirming that a PDP Context has been created, the SGSN sends anActivate PDP Context Accept message to the wireless communication unit.The wireless communication unit is then able to access the externalpacket data network using the activated PDP context within the GGSN.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, and in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention, when a wireless communication unit located within thefemto cell 150, for example UE 114, wants to access the external datapacket network 160, the UE 114 sends a request to access the packet datanetwork to the core network 142, via the 3G AP 130. Upon receipt of sucha request, the signal processing logic module 165 of the 3G AP 130 maybe arranged to modify the request to comprise an identifiercorresponding to the gateway logic module of the access point, and toforward the modified request on to the core network 142 via the 3Gcontroller 140.

For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, therequest may be in a form of an Activate PDP Context Request message.Typically, an Activate PDP Context Request message comprises an AccessPoint Name (APN) information element. An APN information elementidentifies the packet data network to which the wireless communicationunit wishes to connect. In particular, within a GPRS backbone, an APNprovides a reference to a GGSN. To support inter-PLMN (Public LandMobile Network) roaming, the internal GPRS DNS functionality is used totranslate the APN into an IP (Internet Protocol) address for the GGSN.An APN comprises one or more labels separated by dots, such as forexample:

service.operator.com

where ‘service’ may comprise a value of ‘web’, ‘wap’, ‘email’, etc., and‘operator’ may comprise the name of the network operator to which thewireless communication unit is subscribed (e.g. Vodaphone™, O2™,T-Mobile™, Orange™, Virgin™, etc.). The APN can be resolved, for exampleusing DNS functionality, to provide an IP address of an appropriate GGSNfor accessing the required service.

As previously mentioned for the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,upon receipt of such a request, the signal processing logic module 165of the 3G AP 130 may be arranged to modify the request to comprise anidentifier corresponding to the gateway logic module 175 of the 3G AP130. For example, in the case were such a request is in a form of anActivate PDP Context Request message, the signal processing logic module165 may be arranged, upon receipt of an Activate PDP Context Requestmessage from a wireless communication unit, to determine whether thereceived Activate PDP Context Request message comprises an APNcorresponding to a service (e.g. web, wap, email) relating to the datapacket network 160 with which the gateway logic module 175 of the 3G AP130 is arranged to provide an interface.

For example, the 3G AP 130 may be configured with, say, a list of APNlabels (for example comprising complete APNs, service labels, etc.) thatrelate to the packet data network 160 with which the gateway logicmodule 175 of the 3G AP 130 is arranged to provide an interface, wherebysaid list may be stored in a memory element 135 of the 3G AP 130.Accordingly, the signal processing logic module 165 may be arranged,upon receipt of an Activate PDP Context Request message from a wirelesscommunication unit, to retrieve the list of APN labels from memory. Thesignal processing logic module may then compare the APN within thereceived Activate PDP Context Request message, to entries within thelist to determine whether the received Activate PDP Context Requestmessage comprises an APN corresponding to a service relating to the datapacket network 160 with which the gateway logic module 175 of the 3G AP130 is arranged to provide an interface.

If the received Activate PDP Context Request message does comprise anAPN corresponding to a service relating to the data packet network 160,with which the gateway logic module 175 is arranged to provide aninterface, the signal processing logic module 165 may be arranged tomodify the Activate PDP Context Request message to comprise an APNcorresponding to the gateway logic module of the 3G AP 130. The signalprocessing logic module 165 may then forward the modified request on toa core network element via the access point controller. An example of amodified APN may comprise:

service.femto.operator.com

where the APN is modified to include a generic label ‘femto’, indicatingthat the required access point for the external packet data network islocated within a femto AP. An alternative example of a modified APN maycomprise:

service.<apserial>.femto.operator.com

where the APN is further modified to include the ‘<apserial>’ label, aswell as the generic ‘femto’ label. In this manner, not only does themodified APN indicate that a required access point for the externalpacket data network is located within a femto AP, but also provides aserial number for the specific femto AP.

However, if the received Activate PDP Context Request message does notcomprise an APN corresponding to a service relating to the data packetnetwork 160 with which the gateway logic module 175 is arranged toprovide an interface, the signal processing logic module 165 may forwardthe unmodified request on to a core network element via the access pointcontroller.

The forwarded request is received by a core network element, which forthe illustrated embodiment is in a form of SGSN 180. Upon receipt of theActivate PDP Context Request message, The SGSN 180 provides the APNcontained therein to a DNS infrastructure 190, which performs a DNSlookup to retrieve an IP address for the required GGSN, such as corenetwork GGSN 195. However, in the case where the 3G AP 130 has modifiedthe Activate PDP Context Request message to comprise an APNcorresponding to the gateway logic module 175 of the 3G AP 130, the DNSinfrastructure 190 returns an IP address corresponding to the gatewaylogic module 175 of the 3G AP 130.

As will be appreciated, an SGSN may be responsible for serving a largenumber of femto cell access points. Furthermore, femto cell populationsmay tend to be more dynamic, with new femto cells continuously beingadded, and some older femto cells sometimes being removed from thenetwork. Consequently, it may not be practical for the DNSInfrastructure 190 to store IP addresses for a gateway logic modulewithin each femto cell access point. Thus, and in accordance with anembodiment of the invention, the SGSN 180 may comprise a femto gatewayrouter logic module 185. In this manner, upon receipt of a modifiedActivate PDP Context Request message, the DNS infrastructure 190recognises that the APN corresponds to a gateway logic module of a femtoaccess point, and returns, say, the IP address of the femto gatewayrouter logic module 185. Upon receipt of the IP address of the femtogateway router logic module 185, the SGSN 180 forwards the request toactivate a PDP context to the femto gateway router logic module 185, forexample in a form of a Create PDP Context Request message. The femtogateway router logic module 185 then identifies the specific femto cellAP, within which the required gateway logic is located, and sends aCreate PDP Context Request message to that femto cell AP gateway logicmodule.

By way of example, the Create PDP Context Request message may comprisean IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) for the wirelesscommunication unit requesting access to the packet data network 160. Thegateway router logic 185 may comprise, or have access to, a database orother storage facility (not shown) associating IMSIs with 3G APs, suchas 3G AP 130. For example, upon deployment and configuration of a 3G AP,IMSIs of wireless communication units authorised to access servicesthrough that 3G AP are stored within the database or other storagefacility and associated with the corresponding 3G AP. Upon receipt of aCreate PDP Context Request message, the gateway router logic 185 isthereby able to identify the appropriate 3G AP from the IMSI therein,and to send the Create PDP Context Request message to the gateway logicmodule 175 for that 3G AP.

Upon receipt of the Create PDP Context Request message, the gatewaylogic module 175 of the 3G AP 130 creates a PDP Context, and sends backa Create PDP Context Response to the SGSN 180. Upon receipt of theCreate PDP Context Response message from the gateway logic module 175 ofthe 3G AP 130, the SGSN 180 sends an Activate PDP Context Accept messageto the wireless communication unit 114. The wireless communication unitmay then proceed with accessing the external packet data network 160 viathe gateway logic module 175 of the 3G AP 130.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is illustrated an example of a simplifiedflowchart 300 of a method for providing access to a packet data network,according to an embodiment of the invention. The method starts at step310 with the receipt of a request to access a packet data network from awireless communication unit, which for the illustrated embodiment is ina form of an Activate PDP Context Request message. Next, in step 320, itis determined whether the request comprises an identifier thatcorresponds to a packet data network for which a local interface isavailable. For example, it may be determined whether the requestcomprises an APN corresponding to a service relating to the data packetnetwork with which a gateway logic module of a local access point isarranged to provide an interface.

If it is determined that the request comprises an identifiercorresponding to a packet data network for which a local gatewayinterface is available, the method moves on to step 330, where therequest is modified to comprise an identifier corresponding to the localgateway interface. For example, the APN of the Activate PDP ContextRequest message may be modified to indicate a femto gateway interface.Next, in step 340, the modified request is forwarded to a core networkelement, such as an SGSN. A request to create a PDP context, for examplein a form of a Create PDP Context Request message, is then received fromthe core network, in step 350, following which a PDP context is createdat the local gateway interface in step 360. The method then ends at step370.

Referring back to step 320, if it is determined that the request doesnot comprise an identifier that corresponds to a packet data network forwhich a local gateway interface is available, the method moves on tostep 380, where the unmodified request is forwarded to a core networkelement, for example an SGSN, and the method ends at step 370.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, for the previously described embodimentof the invention, the signal processing logic module 165 of the 3G AP130 is arranged, upon receipt of a request from a wireless communicationunit to access the packet data network 160, to modify the request tocomprise an identifier corresponding to the gateway logic module 175 ofthe 3G AP 130, and to forward the modified request on to the SGSN 180via the 3G access controller 140. In this manner, access to the packetdata network 160 may be routed via the more local gateway logic module175.

However, in accordance with an alternative embodiment, a wirelesscommunication unit, such as UE 114, may be arranged to transmit arequest to access the packet data network 160 comprising an identifiercorresponding to the gateway logic module 175 of the 3G AP 130. Forexample, the UE 114 may comprise signal processing logic module 118arranged to request access to a packet data network via the cellularcommunication network 100. The signal processing logic module 118 may befurther arranged to determine whether the UE 114 is connected to a femtocell access point. For example, femto cells may be configured withspecific ‘femto’ Location Area Codes (LACs). Accordingly, the signalprocessing logic module 118 of the UE 114 may be arranged to identifywhen it is connected to a cell comprising such a ‘femto’ LAC.Alternatively, the UE may be configured to recognise one or more ‘home’femto cells, such as femto cells deployed within the residence and/orwork place of the user of the UE 114.

If the UE 114 is connected to a femto cell access point, such as the 3GAP 130, the signal processing logic module 118 may be arranged totransmit a request to access the packet data network 160 comprising anidentifier, such as an address, corresponding to a gateway interface ofthe femto cell access point, such as the gateway logic module 175 of the3G AP 130. Alternatively, the signal processing logic module 118 may bearranged to transmit a request to access the packet data networkcomprising a substantially generic address corresponding to gatewaylogic modules of access points. For example, the signal processing logicmodule 118 may transmit an Activate PDP Context Request messagecomprising an APN such as:

service.femto.operator.com

In this manner, the 3G AP 130 may be arranged to simply forward thereceived request on to the SGSN 180. Upon receipt of the request, theSGSN provides the APN to the DNS infrastructure 190, which returns an IPaddress for the appropriate gateway. For example, in the case where thesignal processing logic module 118 of the UE 114 transmitted a requestcomprising an identifier that corresponds to a gateway logic module 175of the 3G AP 130, the DNS infrastructure returns an IP address for thefemto gateway router logic module 185. Consequently, a Create PDPContext Request message is transmitted back to the gateway logic module175 of the 3G AP 130.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated an example of a simplifiedflowchart 400 of a method for providing a wireless communication unitwith access to a packet data network according to an alternativeembodiment of the invention.

The method starts at step 410, for example when the wirelesscommunication unit needs to access a packet data network. The methodthen moves to step 420, where it is determined whether the wirelesscommunication unit is connected to a femto cell access point of acellular communication network. For example, femto cells may beconfigured with specific ‘femto’ Location Area Codes (LACs).Accordingly, the signal processing logic module 118 of the wirelesscommunication unit may be arranged to identify when it is connected to acell comprising such a ‘femto’ LAC. Alternatively, the wirelesscommunication unit may be configured to recognise one or more ‘home’femto cells by way of their Cell Identifiers, such as femto cellsdeployed within the residence and/or work place of the user of thewireless communication unit.

If it is determined that the wireless communication unit is connected toa femto cell access point, the method moves on to step 430 where anidentifier, for example an APN, corresponding to a gateway interface ofthe femto cell access point is selected. A request to access the packetdata network, such as an Activate PDP Context Request message, thatcomprises the selected identifier is then sent to a core network elementsuch as an SGSN in step 440.

Referring back to step 420, if it is determined that the wirelesscommunication unit is not connected to a femto cell access point, themethod moves on to step 450, where an identifier corresponding to a corenetwork gateway (e.g. GGSN) is selected. A request to access the packetdata network, such as an Activate PDP Context Request message,comprising the selected identifier is then transmitted to a core networkelement such as an SGSN in step 440.

Having sent the request comprising the selected identifier to the corenetwork element, the method moves on to step 460, where a response tothe request is received, for example in a form of an Activate PDPContext Response message. The packet data network may then be accessedusing the activated PDP context in step 470. The method then ends atstep 480.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated an example of part of the3GPP network 500, adapted in accordance with an alternative embodimentof the invention. In particular, there is illustrated an example of partof a cellular communication network 500 that comprises a combination ofmacro cells and femto cells.

As previously mentioned, for the femto cell scenario the RNS 110comprises a 3G AP 130 coupled to 3G access controller 140 via packetdata network 160. The 3G access controller 140 is coupled to the corenetwork 142 via an Iu interface, as shown. The core network 142comprises network elements in a form of SGSN 180, DNS infrastructure 190and GGSN 195.

The core network 142 is further coupled to a macro radio networksub-system 210 comprising one or more Radio Network Controllers (RNCs)220 and one or more macro cell base station transceivers, or Node Bs in3G parlance, 230. The one or more RNCs 220 within the macro radionetwork sub-system 210 are also coupled to the SGSN 180 via an Iuinterface.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the SGSN 180comprises signal processing logic module 280 arranged to receiverequests to access the packet data network 160 from wirelesscommunication units and to initiate access creation in response thereto.In particular, the signal processing logic module 280 comprises gatewayrouter logic module 285, and upon receipt of a request to access apacket data network from a wireless communication within a femto cell,such as UE 114, the gateway router logic module 285 is arranged toidentify a femto access point that supports the femto cell within whichthe wireless communication unit is located. The gateway router logicmodule 285 is arranged to obtain an address for a gateway interface ofthe identified femto access point with which the signal processing logicmodule 280 is to initiate access activation.

By way of example, the gateway router logic 285 may comprise, or haveaccess to, a database or other storage facility (not shown) associatingIMSIs with 3G APs, such as 3G AP 130. For example, upon deployment andconfiguration of a 3G AP, IMSIs of wireless communication unitsauthorised to access services through that 3G AP are stored within thedatabase or other storage facility and associated with the corresponding3G AP. Upon receipt of a request to access a packet data network from awireless communication, the gateway router logic 285 is thereby able toidentify the appropriate 3G AP from the IMSI of the requesting wirelesscommunication unit, and to send a Create PDP Context Request message tothe gateway logic module for that 3G AP.

In particular, upon receipt of a request to access the packet datanetwork 160, the signal processing logic module 280 of the SGSN 180 maybe arranged to determine whether the request was received from the macrosub-system RNC 220 or the femto 3G access controller 140. If the requestwas received from the femto 3G access controller 140, the signalprocessing logic module 280 may be arranged to provide at least part ofthe request to the gateway router logic module 285, such that thegateway router logic module 285 is able to obtain an appropriate addressfor the gateway logic module 175 of the relevant 3G AP 130.

For example, the UE 114 may transmit a request to access the packet datanetwork 160 in the form of an Activate PDP Context Request message. The3G AP 130 receives the request from the UE 114, and forwards it on tothe 3G access controller 140, which in turn forwards it on to the SGSN180. Upon receipt of the request, the signal processing logic module 280of the SGSN 180 identifies that the request was received from the femto3G access controller 140, for example by identifying which accesscontroller connection (Iu) was used to receive the request, and providesthe request to the gateway router logic module 285. The gateway routerlogic module 285 identifies the femto access point from which therequest was received, for example by way of an IMSI of the requestingwireless communication unit, and obtains an IP address for the gatewaylogic module 175 of the appropriate 3G AP 130. For example, havingidentified the relevant femto access point, the IP address for thecorresponding gateway logic may be resolved using a DNS lookup typeoperation. The gateway router logic module 285 is then able to returnthe IP address for the gateway logic module 175 of the 3G AP 130 back tothe signal processing logic module 280. The signal processing logicmodule 280 is then able to initiate activation of the PDP Context, forexample by sending a Create PDP Context Request message to the gatewaylogic module 175 of the 3G AP 130.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a simplified flowchart 600 of a methodfor providing access to a packet data network according to analternative embodiment of the invention.

The method starts at step 610, with the receipt of a request to accessthe packet data network from a wireless communication unit. For example,the request may be in a form of an Activate PDP Context Request message.Next, in step 620, it is determined whether the request came from amacro sub-system, for example via an RNC, or from a femto sub-system,for example via a femto access controller.

If it is determined that the request came from a femto sub-system, themethod moves on to step 630, where the relevant femto access pointsupporting the femto cell, within which the wireless communication unitis located, is identified. The IP address for the gateway interface ofthe femto access point to the packet data network is then obtained, instep 640. Access creation is then initiated using the obtained femtoaccess point gateway interface address in step 650, and the method endsin step 660.

Referring back to step 620, if it is determined that the request did notcome from a femto sub-system, but rather from a macro sub-system, themethod moves to step 670, where a DNS lookup is performed on anidentifier (e.g. an APN) within the received request in order toretrieve an IP address for a core network gateway interface, for examplein the form of a GGSN. The method then moves on to step 650, whereaccess creation is initiated using the retrieved core network gatewayinterface address in step 650, and the method ends in step 660.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated an example of part of the3GPP network 700, adapted in accordance with a further alternativeembodiment of the invention. In particular, there is illustrated anexample of part of a cellular communication network 700 that comprises acombination of macro cells and femto cells.

In the same manner as for the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, thefemto cell scenario RNS 110 comprises a 3G AP 130 coupled to 3G accesscontroller 140 via packet data network 160. The 3G access controller 140is coupled to SGSN 180 within the core network 142 via an Iu interface,as shown. For the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the SGSN 180 isoperably coupled exclusively to femto sub-systems, such as the femto RNS110 illustrated. Accordingly, SGSN 180 in FIG. 7 will hereinafter bereferred to as femto SGSN 180.

The core network 142 is further coupled to a macro radio networksub-system 210 comprising one or more Radio Network Controllers (RNCs)220 and one or more macro cell base station transceivers, or Node Bs in3G parlance, 230. The one or more RNCs 220 within the macro radionetwork sub-system 210 are coupled to macro SGSN 780 via an Iuinterface. The core network 142 further comprises DNS infrastructure 190and GGSN 195, both of which are operably coupled to macro SGSN 780.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the femto SGSN 180comprises a signal processing logic module 280 arranged to receiverequests to access the packet data network 160 from wirelesscommunication units, and to initiate access creation in responsethereto. In particular, the signal processing logic module 280 comprisesgateway router logic 285, and upon receipt of a request to access apacket data network from a wireless communication within a femto cell,such as UE 114, the gateway router logic module 285 is arranged toidentify a femto access point supporting the femto cell within which thewireless communication unit is located, and to obtain an address for agateway interface of the identified femto access point with which thesignal processing logic module 280 is to initiate access activation.

As previously mentioned, femto SGSN 180 is operably coupled exclusivelyto femto sub-systems. Accordingly, upon receipt of requests to accessdata packet network 160, there is no need for the signal processinglogic module 280 to determine whether the request was received from afemto access controller. Similarly, the macro SGSN 780 may be operablycoupled exclusively to macro sub-systems. As a result, the macro SGSN780 may be implemented using traditional SGSN functionality.

For the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andhereinbefore described, the femto gateway router logic module 185, 285has been illustrated and described as forming a part of an SGSN.However, it is within the contemplation of the invention that the femtogateway router logic module 185, 285 may comprise a substantiallyseparate network element to the SGSN. In particular, it is contemplatedthat such a gateway router logic module 185, 285 may be located betweenan SGSN and multiple GGSNs and multiple gateway logic modules. Thus,since conventional SGSNs are not typically designed to handle largenumbers of GGSNs, and typically expect to interact with just a handfulof GGSNs, the gateway router logic module 185, 285 is able to handle thecommunication with large numbers of gateway logic modules.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that for some embodiments of theinvention, the femto gateway router logic module 185, 285 may appear tothe SGSN as a standard GGSN. In this manner, the SGSN need not bemodified from standard SGSN functionality in order to implement thefeatures of the present invention. The femto gateway router logic module185, 285 may also appear to a GGSN as a standard SGSN. In this manner,the GGSN need not be modified from standard GGSN functionality in orderto implement the features of the present invention.

It is envisaged that the aforementioned embodiments aim to provide oneor more of the following advantages:

-   -   (i) enabling external packet data networks to be accessed more        efficiently via femto cells within a cellular communication        network than is traditionally possible. In one embodiment, this        accessing may be performed substantially without affecting the        facility for accessing external packet data networks via macro        cells;    -   (ii) enabling substantially direct access to packet data        networks via femto access points, without the need for such        access to be routed through a core network, thereby reducing        unnecessary use of network resources employed in current        architectures;    -   (iii) enabling the provision of access to an external packet        data network whilst adhering to 3GPP (and/or other) standards,        and without resources within the core network being        unnecessarily reserved; and    -   (iv) enabling the provision of substantially direct access to        local packet data networks, such as Local Area Networks,        corporate intranets, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is illustrated a typical computing system800 that may be employed to implement signal processing functionality inembodiments of the invention. Computing systems of this type may be usedin access points and wireless communication units. Those skilled in therelevant art will also recognize how to implement the invention usingother computer systems or architectures. Computing system 800 mayrepresent, for example, a desktop, laptop or notebook computer,hand-held computing device (PDA, cell phone, palmtop, etc.), mainframe,server, client, or any other type of special or general purposecomputing device as may be desirable or appropriate for a givenapplication or environment. Computing system 800 can include one or moreprocessors, such as a processor 804. Processor 804 can be implementedusing a general or special-purpose processing engine such as, forexample, a microprocessor, microcontroller or other control logic. Inthis example, processor 804 is connected to a bus 802 or othercommunications medium.

Computing system 800 can also include a main memory 808, such as randomaccess memory (RAM) or other dynamic memory, for storing information andinstructions to be executed by processor 804. Main memory 808 also maybe used for storing temporary variables or other intermediateinformation during execution of instructions to be executed by processor804. Computing system 800 may likewise include a read only memory (ROM)or other static storage device coupled to bus 802 for storing staticinformation and instructions for processor 804.

The computing system 800 may also include information storage system810, which may include, for example, a media drive 812 and a removablestorage interface 820. The media drive 812 may include a drive or othermechanism to support fixed or removable storage media, such as a harddisk drive, a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical diskdrive, a compact disc (CD) or digital video drive (DVD) read or writedrive (R or RW), or other removable or fixed media drive. Storage media818 may include, for example, a hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic tape,optical disk, CD or DVD, or other fixed or removable medium that is readby and written to by media drive 812. As these examples illustrate, thestorage media 818 may include a computer-readable storage medium havingparticular computer software or data stored therein.

In alternative embodiments, information storage system 810 may includeother similar components for allowing computer programs or otherinstructions or data to be loaded into computing system 800. Suchcomponents may include, for example, a removable storage unit 822 and aninterface 820, such as a program cartridge and cartridge interface, aremovable memory (for example, a flash memory or other removable memorymodule) and memory slot, and other removable storage units 822 andinterfaces 820 that allow software and data to be transferred from theremovable storage unit 822 to computing system 800.

Computing system 800 can also include a communications interface 824.Communications interface 824 can be used to allow software and data tobe transferred between computing system 800 and external devices.Examples of communications interface 824 can include a modem, a networkinterface (such as an Ethernet or other NIC card), a communications port(such as for example, a universal serial bus (USB) port), a PCMCIA slotand card, etc. Software and data transferred via communicationsinterface 824 are in the form of signals which can be electronic,electromagnetic, and optical or other signals capable of being receivedby communications interface 824. These signals are provided tocommunications interface 824 via a channel 828. This channel 828 maycarry signals and may be implemented using a wireless medium, wire orcable, fiber optics, or other communications medium. Some examples of achannel include a phone line, a cellular phone link, an RF link, anetwork interface, a local or wide area network, and othercommunications channels.

In this document, the terms ‘computer program product’‘computer-readable medium’ and the like may be used generally to referto media such as, for example, memory 808, storage device 818, orstorage unit 822. These and other forms of computer-readable media maystore one or more instructions for use by processor 804, to cause theprocessor to perform specified operations. Such instructions, generallyreferred to as ‘computer program code’ (which may be grouped in the formof computer programs or other groupings), when executed, enable thecomputing system 800 to perform functions of embodiments of the presentinvention. Note that the code may directly cause the processor toperform specified operations, be compiled to do so, and/or be combinedwith other software, hardware, and/or firmware elements (e.g., librariesfor performing standard functions) to do so.

In an embodiment where the elements are implemented using software, thesoftware may be stored in a computer-readable medium and loaded intocomputing system 800 using, for example, removable storage unit 822,drive 812 or communications interface 824. The control logic (in thisexample, software instructions or computer program code), when executedby the processor 804, causes the processor 804 to perform the functionsof the invention as described herein.

It will be appreciated that, for clarity purposes, the above descriptionhas described embodiments of the invention with reference to differentfunctional elements and processors. However, it will be apparent thatany suitable distribution of functionality between different functionalelements or processors, for example with respect to a base station orcontroller, may be used without detracting from the invention. Forexample, it is envisaged that functionality illustrated to be performedby separate processors or controllers may be performed by the sameprocessor or controller. Hence, references to specific functional unitsare only to be seen as references to suitable means for providing thedescribed functionality, rather than indicative of a strict logical orphysical structure or organization.

Aspects of the invention may be implemented in any suitable formincluding hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. Theinvention may optionally be implemented, at least partly, as computersoftware running on one or more data processors and/or digital signalprocessors. Thus, the elements and components of an embodiment of theinvention may be physically, functionally and logically implemented inany suitable way. Indeed, the functionality may be implemented in asingle unit, in a plurality of units or as part of other functionalunits.

Although one embodiment of the invention describes an AP for a UMTSnetwork, it is envisaged that the inventive concept is not restricted tothis embodiment.

Although the invention has been described in connection with someembodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form setforth herein. Rather, the scope of the present invention is limited onlyby the accompanying claims. Additionally, although a feature may appearto be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilledin the art would recognize that various features of the describedembodiments may be combined in accordance with the invention. In theclaims, the term ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of otherelements or steps.

Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readablestorage element having computer readable code stored thereon forprogramming a computer (e.g., comprising a signal processing device) toperform a method as described and claimed herein. Examples of suchcomputer-readable storage elements include, but are not limited to, ahard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storagedevice, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read OnlyMemory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flashmemory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill,notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choicesmotivated by, for example, available time, current technology, andeconomic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principlesdisclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such softwareinstructions and programs and integrated circuits (ICs) with minimalexperimentation.

Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means,elements or method steps may be implemented by, for example, a singleunit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may beincluded in different claims, these may possibly be advantageouslycombined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that acombination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. Also, theinclusion of a feature in one category of claims does not imply alimitation to this category, but rather indicates that the feature isequally applicable to other claim categories, as appropriate.

Furthermore, the order of features in the claims does not imply anyspecific order in which the features must be performed and in particularthe order of individual steps in a method claim does not imply that thesteps must be performed in this order. Rather, the steps may beperformed in any suitable order. In addition, singular references do notexclude a plurality. Thus, references to ‘a’, ‘an’, ‘first’, ‘second’etc. do not preclude a plurality.

Thus, a method and apparatus for providing access to a packet datanetwork have been described, which aims to substantially address atleast some of the shortcomings of past and present techniques and/ormechanisms for providing access to a packet data network.

1. An access point for supporting communication in a femto cell of acellular communication network, the access point comprising: atransceiver circuitry arranged to enable communication with at least onewireless communication unit located within the femto cell; and a signalprocessing logic module comprising an access point controller interfacelogic module arranged to enable communication between the access pointand an access point controller, and a gateway logic module arranged toprovide a gateway interface between the at least one wirelesscommunication unit located within the femto cell and a packet datanetwork.
 2. The access point of claim 1 wherein, upon receipt of arequest from the wireless communication unit to access the packet datanetwork, the signal processing logic module is arranged to modify therequest to comprise at least one from the group consisting of: anidentifier corresponding to the gateway logic module of the accesspoint, an address corresponding to the gateway logic module of theaccess point, and a substantially generic address corresponding togateway logic modules of access points.
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled) 5.The access point of claim 2 wherein the gateway logic module is furtherarranged to forward the modified request on to a core network elementvia the access point controller.
 6. The access point of claim 2 wherein,upon receipt of a request to access a data packet network, the signalprocessing logic module is arranged to determine whether the data packetnetwork for which access is requested is the same data packet networkwith which the gateway logic module of the access point is arranged toprovide an interface.
 7. The access point of claim 6, wherein if thedata packet network for which access is requested is the same datapacket network with which the gateway logic module of the access pointis arranged to provide an interface, the signal processing logic moduleis arranged to modify the request to comprise an identifier thatcorresponds to the gateway logic of the access point.
 8. The accesspoint of claim 2 wherein the signal processing logic module is arranged,upon receipt of an Activate PDP (Packet Data Protocol) Context Requestmessage from the wireless communication unit, to determine whether thereceived Activate PDP Context Request message comprises an Access PointName (APN) that corresponds to a service relating to the data packetnetwork with which the gateway logic module of the access point isarranged to provide the interface.
 9. The access point of claim 8wherein if the received Activate PDP Context Request message comprisesthe APN corresponding to service relating to the data packet networkwith which the gateway logic module of the access point is arranged toprovide interface, the signal processing logic module is arranged tomodify the Activate PDP Context Request message to comprise an APNcorresponding to the gateway logic module of the access point.
 10. Theaccess point of claim 8 wherein, upon receipt of the Activate PDPContext Request message from the wireless communication unit, the signalprocessing logic module is arranged to compare the APN within thereceived request to a list of APN labels stored within memory.
 11. Theaccess point of claim 10 wherein if the APN within the received requestmatches an entry within the list of APN labels stored within memory, thesignal processing logic module is arranged to modify the Activate PDPContext Request message to comprise an APN corresponding to the gatewaylogic module of the access point.
 12. The access point of claim 1wherein the access point controller interface logic module is arrangedto enable communication between the access point and the access pointcontroller via the packet data network with which the gateway logicmodule provides an interface.
 13. The access point of claim 1 whereinthe gateway logic module is arranged to provide an interface between theat least one wireless communication unit located within the femto celland the at least one from the group consisting of: Internet and a LocalArea Network (LAN).
 14. (canceled)
 15. A wireless communication unitcomprising: a transceiver circuitry arranged to enable communicationwith a cellular communication network; and a signal processing logicmodule arranged to request access to a packet data network via thecellular communication network; wherein the signal processing logicmodule is further arranged to: determine whether the wirelesscommunication unit is connected to a femto cell access point of thecellular communication network; and if the wireless communication unitis connected to the femto cell access point of the cellularcommunication network, the signal processing logic module is arranged totransmit a request to access the packet data network comprising at leastone from the group consisting of: an identifier corresponding to agateway interface of the femto cell access point, an addresscorresponding to a gateway logic module of the femto cell access point,and a substantially generic address corresponding to gateway logicmodules of access points.
 16. (canceled)
 17. (canceled)
 18. A networkelement of a cellular communication network, the network elementcomprising a signal processing logic module arranged to receive requeststo access a packet data network from wireless communication units and toinitiate access activation in response thereto; wherein the signalprocessing logic module comprises a gateway router logic module, andupon receipt of a request to access a packet data network from awireless communication unit within a femto cell, the gateway routerlogic module is arranged to: identify a femto access point supportingthe femto cell within which the wireless communication unit is located;and obtain an address for a gateway interface of the identified femtoaccess point with which the signal processing logic module is toinitiate access activation.
 19. The network element of claim 18 wherein,upon receipt of the request to access the packet data network, thesignal processing logic module is arranged to determine whether therequest was received from a macro sub-system radio network controller ora femto access point controller.
 20. The network element of claim 19wherein if the request was received from the femto access pointcontroller, the signal processing logic module is arranged to providethe request to the gateway router logic module for the gateway routerlogic module to obtain an appropriate address for the gateway interfaceof the femto access point.
 21. A method for providing access to a packetdata network, the method comprising, at an access point: receiving arequest to access the data packet network, the request comprising anidentifier that corresponds to a remote gateway interface; modifying therequest to comprise an identifier that corresponds to a local gatewayinterface; and forwarding the modified request on to a core networkelement.
 22. A method for providing a wireless communication unit withaccess to a packet data network, the method comprising, at the wirelesscommunication unit: determining whether the wireless communication unitis connected to a femto cell access point of a cellular communicationnetwork; and if the wireless communication unit is connected to thefemto cell access point of the cellular communication network,transmitting a request to access the packet data network wherein therequest comprises an identifier that corresponds to a gateway interfaceof the femto cell access point.
 23. A method for providing access to apacket data network, the method comprising, at a network element:receiving a request to access the packet data network from a wirelesscommunication unit within a femto cell; identifying a femto access pointthat supports the femto cell within which the wireless communicationunit is located; obtaining an address for a gateway interface of theidentified femto access point; and initiating access creation using theobtained femto access point gateway interface address.
 24. A wirelesscommunication system adapted to support the method for providing accessto a packet data network according to claim
 21. 25. A non-transitorycomputer-readable product having executable program code stored thereinfor programming signal processing logic to perform a method forproviding access to a packet data network, the program code operablefor, when executed at an access point: receiving a request to access thepacket data network at a femto access point, the request comprising anidentifier corresponding to a remote gateway interface; modifying therequest to comprise a local identifier corresponding to a local gatewayinterface; and forwarding the modified request on to a core networkelement.
 26. A non-transitory computer-readable product havingexecutable program code stored therein for programming signal processinglogic to perform a method for providing a wireless communication unitwith access to a packet data network, the program code operable for,when executed at a wireless communication unit: determining whether thewireless communication unit is connected to a femto cell access point ofa cellular communication network; and if the wireless communication unitis connected to the femto cell access point of the cellularcommunication network, to transmit a request to access the packet datanetwork comprising an identifier corresponding to a gateway interface ofthe femto cell access point.
 27. A non-transitory computer-readableproduct having executable program code stored therein for programmingsignal processing logic to perform a method for providing access to apacket data network, the program code operable for, when executed at anetwork element: receiving a request to access the packet data networkfrom a wireless communication unit within a femto cell; identifying afemto access point supporting the femto cell within which the wirelesscommunication unit is located; retrieving an address for a gatewayinterface of the identified femto access point; and initiating accessactivation using the obtained femto access point gateway interfaceaddress.